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Student:

Transcript:
What
is
Gardner's
Theory
of
Multiple
Intelligences?
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Which types of intelligence do you identify with? As you watch this video on Gardner's theory of multiple
intelligences, you'll learn that intelligence can be a diverse concept not limited to one area.
Imagine you're going to give a presentation in class or at work. Would you include pictures to
illustrate your points? Would you tell a story or act out a skit? The method you choose would draw
on your talents and reflect the way that you solve problems and learn. So, if visual aids like maps
and drawings help you understand concepts, you're likely to include them in your presentation. But if
someone else watching your presentation learns by doing, they might not be able to follow along
unless you use body language and actions to physically demonstrate what you're talking about.

American psychologist Howard

Gardner first recognized that people have different ways of learning
and problem solving. He worked with autistic patients who excelled at music or math although they
lacked social awareness or the ability to communicate effectively with others. Gardner proposed the
Theory
of
Multiple
Intelligences, which suggests that people have different strengths and different
ways of solving problems.

Gardner's theory was groundbreaking because, before he proposed multiple intelligences, only logic
and math were tested. Gardner's system created a more descriptive, multidimensional approach.
Before, IQ was used as shorthand for learning potential and capability, but only people who were
good at solving math problems were smart according to the test. Gardner's work helped to explain
diverse learning styles and approaches, allowing for educational developments, which have changed
how we teach.

From these studies, a list of eight types of intelligences was created. When you were in high school
maybe people were looked down upon if they weren't good at football, but were good at math.
Gardner showed that there are many types of 'smart.' The football players had one type of
intelligence, and the math team had another kind of intelligence. Let's review Gardner's eight types
of intelligence. Be sure to keep an eye out for the types that you relate to.

1. Visual
Intelligence

You might have visual intelligence if you picture ideas or make mind maps.

American architect Frank Lloyd Wright provides a good example of someone who's 'picture smart,'
because when he designed buildings, he could visualize spatial patterns, such as building design,
before they were built.

2. Linguistic
Intelligence

Are you a good storyteller? If so, you're 'word smart' and have the ability to speak and write well.

Shakespeare used his high linguistic intelligence to write plays that have been loved for hundreds of
years.

3. Logical
and
Mathematical
Intelligence

Can you think of someone who's 'number smart'?

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Einstein had a skill for solving problems using deductive reasoning. Physicists and chess players
employ logical and mathematical intelligence.

4. Musical
Intelligence

If you only need to listen to a song once to be able to play it by ear, you're 'music smart.'

Mozart and others with advanced musical intelligence are sensitive to sound patterns.

I, personally, relate to:

5. Bodily
and
Kinesthetic
Intelligence

I learn faster when I can do an experiment myself. Instead of reading an astronomy textbook, I'd
rather learn by looking at the stars.

Athletes and surgeons also use 'body smarts' when they execute physical tasks. Michael Jordan
excels in bodily and kinesthetic intelligence.

6. Do you have Interpersonal

Intelligence or the ability to work well with others? Are you a social
butterfly who always gets everyone together?

Mother Theresa of Calcutta had a gift for working well with others through her Missionaries of
Charity, as do others who are 'people smart.'

The other side of the coin is:

7. Intrapersonal
Intelligence

Do you keep a journal of your personal viewpoints about events? People who are 'self smart' often
reflect on their own emotions and thoughts about things.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has a deep understanding of himself and is thus a prime example of
someone with intrapersonal intelligence.

8. Naturalist
Intelligence

As a scientist, I classify things in order to better understand them. When I do this, I use naturalist
intelligence.

Jane Goodall used her innate curiosity and 'nature smarts' to recognize patterns in chimpanzee
behavior. Her approach lead to new insights that differed from those of other scientists who had
previously used 'number smarts' to statistically analyze chimps.

People don't have only one type of intelligence to the exclusion of all others. Each of us has a
combination of multiple types of intelligences. Which types of intelligence do you identify with?

Some people endorse the idea of multiple intelligences but propose other types of problem-solving
skills that aren't included in Gardner's list of types. Nonetheless, the basic idea of Gardner's theory
is that there are many ways that people can be smart, and intelligence is not only one thing. Being
smart in one area doesn't necessarily mean you can work out problems in all areas, because
different problems require different skill sets to solve. So, you may be good at solving math problems
but be terrible at interpersonal relationships. As our understanding of the world has broadened, the
ways in which we've come to know the world have also had to grow.
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